Toy



Fe b.9,--1943. 'V; H 2,310,781

TOY

Filed July 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9, 1943. I v. c. HARRIS TOYFiled July 9, 1941 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 were. stares Pr Claims.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a toy of novelconstruction designed to afford young children considerable pleasure andamusement, in that the means for operating the toy is wholly concealedfrom view.

One of the chief objects of the instant invention resides in theprovision of a figure toy including a movable part adapted to beactuated from a remote point by means wholly concealed from view,whereby the toy in the mind of the child is apparently actuated undermysterious circumstances, thus affording the child considerableamusement and surprise.

Other objects and advantages will appear when the following detaildescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, theinvention residing in the combination, construction and arrangement ofparts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy constructed in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operating meanstherefore.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified construction.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operating meanstherefore.

The present invention essentially embodies a figure toy having a movablepart adapted to be actuated from a remote point, and while I have showna specific embodiment of the invention in the nature of a toyrepresenting the bust of a human being, any other character of figuretoy including a movable part may be used and actuated in accordance withthe inventive concept of the instant invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figures 1to 3 inclusive, I have shown a specific form of figure toy representingthe bust of a human being, the head of which is hollow and designed tosimulate a clown. The head is indicated at In, while the mouth is shownat H. The toy in its entirety can of course be constructed of anysuitable material, and may also vary in size and configuration withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Normally disposed within thehead In is the tongue l3 adapted to be quickly projected from the mouthH incident to the operation of the toy in a manner to be presently setforth. The tongue is preferably secured to the intermediate normallybowed portion of a flat spring I2 arranged within the head If! andhaving its opposed ends engaging the same above and below the mouth H asillustrated. Wholly disposed within the head Ill is an inflatable bag 14connected with one end of a tube I5, the opposite end of which hasassociated therewith a compressible air bulb [6. This inflatable bag Hidirectly engages the intermediate bowed portion of the spring 12 asshown. By virtue of this construction it is manifest that when the bulbI6 is compressed air is forced through the tube IE to inflate the bag M,whereupon the spring I2 is substantially straightened to quickly projectthe tongue 13 from the mouth I! of the head It]. The toy in and ofitself affords young children considerable amusement and pleasure, butthis is materially enhanced by reason of the fact that the actuatingmeans for the toy is Wholly concealed from view and controlled from aremote point, thereby add ing the element of surprise to the enjoymentderived from its use.

In this connection, the figure toy is adapted to -be mounted upon asuitable support, preferably a wheeled platform indicated at A, andincluding a handle B of any suitable character having a longitudinalbore or passage therethrough to receive and house the tube l5 wherebythe latter is concealed from view. The outer end of the handle isslightly cupped to provide a seat for the compressible bulb l6 wherebythe latter is always maintained in a position where it can beconveniently grasped for use. Obviously, when a child playing with thetoy compresses the bulb I 6 the tongue I3 is quickly projected from themouth H of the head It! to both the surprise and amusement of the child,as the operating means therefore is wholly concealed from view. Ofcourse, when the bulb I6 is released, the spring l2 returns to itsnormal position thereby retracting the tongue l3 within the head l6.

In Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, I have shown a modified form of theinvention but one embodying all the essential characteristics thereof.In

other words the figure toy is of the same construc tion hereinabovedescribed, and is mounted on the wheeled platform A having a handle B.The head In of the toy is hollow, and accommodates a bell crank leverpivoted therein as at l8. The branches of this lever are indicated at 19and 20 respectively. Pivoted to the free end of the branch [9 is thetongue 2 I, while secured within the head In is a spring 22 having oneend connected to the free end of the branch 20 of said lever. The spring22 normally holds the lever in the position indicated by full lines infigure and the tongue 2| retracted within the head and whol- 1yconcealed from view. Also connected with the free end of the branch 20of the lever is an operating element 23, preferably a cord or the likewhich passes through the handle B of the wheeled platform asillustrated. The outer end of the handle B may be slightly enlarged andhollowed, but is preferably provided with a tubular extension in whichis secured a guide eye 24 through which the operating element or cord 23is trained. The end of this element is attached to the adjacent end of aspring influenced plunger 25. The plunger slides through the end of thehandle B and is normally held extended by the spring 26. By virtue ofthis construction it is obvious that when the plunger is actuatedagainst the tension of the spring 26, a pull is exerted upon the cord23, thereby operating the bell crank lever which quickly projects thetongue 2| from the mouth of the head [0. During this operation thespring 22 is tensioned so that when the plunger 25 is released, thespring 22 returns the bell crank lever to its normal position, therebyretracting the tongue 2| within the head it At the same time the spring26 returns the, plunger 25 to its normal position. Manifestly, in bothforms of the invention the actuating means for the movable part of thetoy is controlled from a remote point and wholly concealed from view,whereby use of the toy affords the child much amusement and pleasure. Ifdesired the invention could also be arranged to operate two or moreparts of the figure toy employed.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily understood, I desire to haveit known that I do not limit myself to what is herein illustrated aspreferred embodiments of the invention, and that such changes may beresorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a figure toy, a wheeled platform having a handle, a body membermounted upon the platform and representing the bust of a human being,including a hollow head, a yieldably influenced tongue supporting memberwholly disposed within the head with the tongue normally retracted, andmanual means controlled from the end of the handle for actuating saidmember to quickly project the tongue through the mouth of the head.

2. In a figure toy, a body member representing the bust of a human beingand including a hollow head, a normally bowed spring supported withinthe head, a tongue carried thereby and normally retracted, and meansoperable from a remote point for substantially straightening said springand thereby quickly projecting the tongue through the mouth of the head.

3. In a figure toy, a body member representing the bust of a human beingand including a hollow head, a normally bowed spring supported withinthe head, a tongue carried thereby and normally retracted, a normallycollapsed inflatable bag arranged within the head, and means operablefrom a remote point for inflating the bag against said spring, wherebythe latter is substantially straightened and the tongue projectedthrough the mouth of the head.

4. In a figure toy, a wheeled platform having a handle, a body membermounted thereon and representing the bust of a human being, including ahollow head, a normally bowed spring supported within the head, a tonguecarried thereby and normally retracted, and concealed means operablefrom the end of the handle to substantially straighten said spring andthereby project the tongue through the mouth of the head.

5. In a figure toy, a body member representing the bust of a human beingand including a hollow head, a bell crank lever pivoted therein, atongue carried by one end of said lever, a spring connected with theother end of the lever, whereby said tongue is held normally retracted,and means operable from a remote point to actuate said lever and projectthe tongue through the mouth of the head.

VINCENT C. HARRIS.

